The All Progressives Congress on Saturday
announced Senator Ahmed Lawan and Senator
George Akume as sole candidates for the position of
President and Deputy Senate President of the 8th
Senate respectively.

This followed a primary election conducted by the
National Working Committee of the APC at the
International Conference Centre, Abuja.

National Secretary of the Party, Mala Buni, who
served as returning officer announced that 33
Senators were accredited to vote after which Lawan
got 32 votes and one vote was declared invalid.

Buni said, “By the powers conferred on me by the
NWC of the APC as the Chief Returning Officer of this
election after having certified that Dr. Ahmed Lawan
has fulfilled all the requirements of the party, he is
hereby nominated as the sole candidate of the party
for the position of Senate President of the 8th
Senate.”

A similar procedure was adopted in the election of
Akume. Akume got 32 out of the 33 votes.

In his acceptance speech, Lawan said while he was
grateful for the confidence reposed in him by the
party and his colleagues, he was saddened that his
colleagues “in the other camp” did not participate in
the process.

He pleaded with the NWC to assist him in winning
over all other senators in the National Assembly
because he would require their support not only to
win on Tuesday but also to provide leadership at the
legislative arm of the government.